Wichita eagle., 1887-01-23
WOMAN AND HOME.
WHAT SHALL WE DO FOR THE
OVERNERVOUS CHILD?

OvCffiSER!OCO Cf1ilO!
Working Women in Tas,lirston-Sweep-
ing and DustinS-Cured of the Art
Craze-Huies for the HouseholG-Pict-
ure Frames-Cseful Hints.
No part or organ OF the body grows SO
fast or is so large in proportion as the ner-
vous system Of the child. At birth the brain
is already seven times as large in proportion
as IS that of the adult; yet il two years y
just doubles its weight, and by the seventh
year is almost as heavy as it ever viii be-
On the other hand, it takes from eight to
ton years for the liver, heart, lungs and
other organs to reach even half thu weight
they VIII have when the child is grown Up.
It has been thought by some that because
children's brains grow 50 fast a special
nerve food, such as cod liver oil, is often
needed: but after all, the brain IS not a
very large lart of the body, and in the
seven years during which it gets its growth,
it really gains q weight Of only two pounds,
while the muscles in growing gain sixty
pounds, end the bones over twenty-five
pounds. So the nerves of healthy children
yet all they need of food or an ordinary diet.
The nervous tissues of the child are
jucier. they have more water than those of
an adult, and this makes them more sensi-
tive. The French colonel explained his
cowaT,iice by saying that he was only
Cne-third colonel and two-thirds water, so
why shouldn't he run? But the child IS
only cue-quarter child and at least three
quarters water; so, perhaps he has physio-
logical excuse for his Discrimination to local
perInanency.
All those higher powers of the nervous
system which hold the body in control are
not yet developed in the child. The gray
natter Of the brain, where dwells tie
mind, is thin and pale and pasty, and the
big nerve cells which the modern material
list bows down to and worships, are not yet
in good form. Certain nerve ccntcrs'
which regulate the beat of the heart, the
flow of the blood, the breathing and the
digestion are not yet up to their work, and
SO all those functions are easily dist Tbcd.
The child is largely at the mercy Of emo
tons from within and impressions from
without
No wonder, then, that with brain grow
ing ike mushroom, with soft and sensi-
tive nervous tissue, with the controlling
ccnters undeveloped. and with the instinct
Of exuberant vitality which tells him that
motion and exclamation are necessary to
health, the child is nervous Nervousness,
20 a certain degree, is the natural condition
Of the child.
The same symptoms which characterize
nervousness solely in children may be the
forerunHer Of some disease, or may be al
indication that there is irritation in some
part Of the body. It may be worms, or
the teeth may not be coming out as they
should, or It may be some irritation OF the
genital organs \ state of continual rer
yous irritation IS common 70 children who
have some cons}unptive or scrotulouS faint
il their blood.
OF the causes that lead 10 undue nervous
ness are cited bad feeding, bad air IL sleep
iGg and school rooms, eye strain, and the
spirit OF competition engendered III school.
But the main question is: what shall we
DO for the overnervOus childT'
Nervous children ought 20 be put upon
special diet and receive unusually careful
discipline They should be made TO eat and
sleep, and lie in the open air regularly; they
should be kept from unhealthful excite
ments. and especially from any society
which excites or worries them. Regularity
in eating and sleeping and good common
sense in the selection of the food are the
most remedial things. Some children, it is
observed win not eat vegetables, others viii
not eat meat Many of those idiosyncrasies
are really only fancics, aud can be con-
trolled by tact and firmness. 1t is not wise
% allow a child to grow up with the habit
of never eating q large class of nutritious
foods. If, because the digestion is really not
good, or il, for other reasons, Il special diet
for nervousness is indicated, this should, as
a rule be a soft one. 1t should consist OF
milk, fish, eggs, cream, farinaccous dishes,
not much meat, little sugar and 10 pastries
or confectionery.
Nervous children need not bc taken from
school necessarily. School discipline IS often
beneficial, but the parents should see that
the studies are not oyerburdensome and
that the child's eyes are not oveTtaXed. In
education children are not hurt by over
work. It is the worry Of competition,
poor light. late hours, bad air and such
accessories that DO the harm. y ork hurts
no one, and a great deal OF the talk about
educational oyerpress}lre is wrctchcd rub
bsh.
It Is misfortune il children have to
spend the greater part OF the ear il the
city, since fresh air and unlimited opportu
nifty to breathe ii and exercise ii it s,re the
best OF remedies against nervousless.-
Charles l. Dana, " D., il Dabyhood.